PRELOVED DIGITECH Brian May Red Special Pedal

PRELOVED DIGITECH Brian May Red Special Pedal

Preloved DigiTech Artist Series pedal. Please refer to the product photographs for cosmetic condition. Accessories and power supply inclusion have not been confirmed.

Few guitar sounds are as instantly recognisable as Brian May's. From the singing lead harmonies of Bohemian Rhapsody to the soaring sustain of We Will Rock You, the Queen guitarist's legendary Red Special, treble booster and cranked amplifier sound helped define an era. The DigiTech Brian May Red Special Pedal brings those ideas together in one expressive, song-inspired multi-effects unit.

Created as part of DigiTech's Artist Series in collaboration with Brian May and producer Eddie Kramer, this distinctive red pedal offers seven signature sound models with a total of fourteen toe/heel variations. It's an exciting find for Queen fans, collectors of unusual effects and players who love experimenting with expressive guitar sounds.

Seven Signature Brian May Sounds

Turn the MODEL selector to explore sounds inspired by some of Queen's best-known recordings. Rather than offering generic presets, each model recreates a different combination of amp character and effects associated with Brian's playing.

• Keep Yourself Alive: Tape-flanged intro and solo textures.
• Bohemian Rhapsody: Singing sustain, rock rhythm and layered orchestral-style sounds.
• Tie Your Mother Down: Driven intro and higher-gain lead tones.
• We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions: Creamy distortion and sweeping phaser character.
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love: Acoustic-style and clean rockabilly-inspired sounds.
• Brighton Rock Solo – Live: Delay-based lead sounds and three-part harmonies.
• Deacy Tone / A Winter's Tale: The distinctive homemade Deacy amp character with optional ambience.

More Than a Preset Pedal

The Red Special gives you control over the way those sounds respond to your own rig. The GAIN/LEVEL and TREBLE/BASS concentric controls let you shape drive, output and EQ, while the CONTROL function changes according to the chosen model — from delay or reverb to phaser speed and harmony balance.

Make Your Guitar Sound More Like the Red Special

One of the cleverest features is the dedicated GUITAR selector. Its SC, RED SPECIAL and HB settings adjust the modelling to suit single-coil guitars, Red Special-style pickups or humbuckers, helping different guitars get closer to Brian's distinctive response and tonal balance.

Built-In Treble Booster, Harmonies and Expression Control

DigiTech included a dynamic analogue treble-booster circuit as part of the sound design, alongside pitch harmonies, delay, modulation and amplifier modelling. The large treadle offers separate toe and heel selections for each model, making it practical to move between contrasting song sections. An optional FS3X footswitch can expand hands-free model navigation when connected (not confirmed as included).

Flexible for Amps and Recording

Use OUT 1 (AMP) into a guitar amplifier or OUT 2 (MIXER) into a suitable mixer or recording setup. The flexible output arrangement makes it useful both for playing along with classic Queen tracks and experimenting with layered sounds in the studio.

Key Features & Specifications

• Model: DigiTech Brian May Red Special Pedal – Artist Series
• Original Release: 2006
• Signature Sounds: Seven models, fourteen toe/heel sound variations
• Effects: Amp and guitar modelling, dynamic analogue treble booster, harmonisation, modulation, delay and ambience
• Controls: MODEL, GAIN/LEVEL, TREBLE/BASS, CONTROL/GUITAR
• Guitar Modes: Single Coil (SC), Red Special, Humbucker (HB)
• Foot Control: Integrated expression treadle with toe and heel switching
• Connections: INPUT, OUT 1 (AMP), OUT 2 (MIXER), FOOTSWITCH
• Optional Expansion: DigiTech FS3X footswitch compatible
• Input Impedance: Normally 1MΩ; varies when the treble booster is engaged
• Output Impedance: 200Ω
• Power: DigiTech PS0913B 9V AC adaptor; no battery power
• Power Consumption: 4.5W
• Dimensions: Approximately 258 × 98 × 63mm
• Weight: Approximately 1.53kg

Who Is It For?

Queen fans who want to explore Brian May's landmark guitar tones, performers covering the band's catalogue and pedal collectors looking for one of the more unusual signature multi-effects units of the 2000s. It also makes a fascinating creative tool for anyone who enjoys complex lead harmonies, vintage modulation and distinctive recorded guitar textures.

Our Take

This isn't just another distortion pedal with a famous name on it. The Red Special captures the full idea behind Brian May's sound — the combination of guitar, treble booster, amplification and studio effects. With seven song-based models, unusual guitar-matching controls and a built-in expression treadle, it's a genuinely interesting piece of DigiTech and Queen history.

Important power note: This pedal requires the specified 9V AC adaptor. Do not substitute a standard 9V DC pedalboard supply. Please confirm included accessories with us before purchasing.

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